8th January Current Affairs 2018 1. Federer-Bencic lead Switzerland to Hopman Cup title ● Switzerland won their third Hopman Cup as Roger Federer and Belinda Bencic beat Germany’s Alexander Zverev and Angelique Kerber 4-3(3) 4-2 in the deciding mixed doubles to secure a 2-1 victory in the final at the Perth Arena. ● It was Federer’s second Hopman Cup triumph after victory in 2001 alongside then world number one Martina Hingis. Important Point: Switzerland ➢ Currency: Swiss franc ➢ Capital: Bern
2. Gilles Simon wins inaugural Tata Open Maharashtra Tennis trophy title ● Gilles Simon of France has lifted the inaugural Tata Open Maharashtra Tennis trophy. ● In the summit clash at Balewadi Sports Complex in Pune, the unseeded French player humbled big-serving second-seeded Kevin Anderson in straight sets 7-6, 6-2. Simon is ranked 89 in the world, while Anderson is ranked Fourteen. ●
Simon had knocked out defending champion and third seed Roberto Bautista Agut.
Important Point: Maharashtra ➢ Capital: Mumbai ➢ Chief minister: Devendra Fadnavis ➢ Governor: Chennamaneni Vidyasagar Rao
3. West Bengal bags first prize for implementation of e-tendering process ● West Bengal has acquired the first position for smooth implementation of e-tender process in the state. E-tendre rule for a contract for projects worthy of more than 5 lakhs was started in 2012 in the state to make the process more transparent. ● The main aim was to make tendre process more transparent and mainly corruption-free as many times people pointed the finger to the process for various irregularities. From the first day of 2018, e-tendre has become mandatory in every department. Important Points: West Bengal ➢ Capital: Kolkata ➢ Chief Minister: Mamata Banerjee ➢ Governor: Keshari Nath Tripathi 4. Golden Globes 2018 list of winners Hollywood stars gathered at the 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills to celebrate the best of television and film. Seth Meyers hosted the show, where most actors and actresses wore black to protest sexual harassment.
List of Golden Globes 2018: MOVIES ● Best motion picture, drama: “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” ● Best motion picture, musical or comedy: “Lady Bird” ● Best actress in a motion picture, drama: Frances McDormand, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” ● Best actor in a motion picture, drama: Gary Oldman, “Darkest Hour” ● Best actor in a motion picture, musical or comedy: James Franco, “The Disaster Artist” ● Best actress in a motion picture, musical or comedy: Saoirse Ronan, “Lady Bird
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Best supporting actor, any motion picture: Sam Rockwell, “Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri” Best supporting actress, any motion picture: Allison Janney, “I, Tonya” Best director: Guillermo del Toro, “The Shape of Water” Best original score: Alexandre Desplat, “The Shape of Water” Best original song: “This Is Me” (from “The Greatest Showman”) Best Screenplay: Martin McDonagh, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” Best foreign language film: “In the Fade”
TELEVISION ● Best television series, drama: “The Handmaid’s Tale” ● Best television series, musical or comedy: “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” ● Best limited series or motion picture made for television: “Big Little Lies” ● Best actress in a series, limited series or motion picture made for television: Nicole Kidman, “Big Little Lies” ● Best actor in a series, limited series or motion picture made for television: Ewan McGregor, “Fargo” ● Best actress in a television series, drama: Elisabeth Moss, “The Handmaid’s Tale” ● Best actor in a television series, drama: Sterling K. Brown, “This Is Us” ● Best actress in a television series, musical or comedy: Rachel Brosnahan, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” ● Best actor in a television series, musical or comedy: Aziz Ansari, “Master of None” ● Best supporting actor in a series, limited series or motion picture made for television: Alexander Skarsgård, “Big Little Lies” ● Best supporting actress in a series, limited series or motion picture made for television: Laura Dern, “Big Little Lies” 5. Ananthkumar inaugurate 18th All India Whips’ Conference ● Shri Ananthkumar inaugurates the 18th All India Whips’ Conference, which will also consider, inter alia, the rolling out of e-Sansad and e-Vidhan in Parliament and State Legislatures to digitize and make their functioning paperless. ● This Conference is being organized by the Union Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs (MoPA) and the Government of Rajasthan.
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e-Sansad and e-Vidhan are mission mode projects of Government of India under Digital India, to make the functioning of Parliament and State Legislatures paperless. MoPA is the Nodal Ministry for implementation of both the projects.
6. Saudi Arabia okays India’s plan to ferry Haj pilgrims via sea route ● The Union Minister made the comment after the signing of annual Haj agreement between India and Saudi Arabia in Mecca. ● Saudi Arabia has given its nod to India’s plan to revive the option of ferrying Haj pilgrims via sea route to Jeddah. ● Saudi Arabia has given its nod to revive the option of sending pilgrims by sea route…Officials from both the countries will discuss all the necessary formalities and technicalities so that Haj pilgrimage through sea route can be started in the coming years. Important: Saudi Arabia ➢ Capital: Riyadh ➢ Currency: Saudi riyal ➢ King: Salman of Saudi Arabia